Wednesday 22 February 2023

Background

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent. Many churches will have special services, during which members of the congregation are given the sign of the cross on their foreheads, using ashes made from last year’s Palm Crosses. Originally, Lent was a 40-day period of preparation for new Christians who were to be baptised during the Easter vigil service. Existing church members began to share this discipline by fasting and undertaking spiritual searching. Eventually, Lent became a formal part of the Church’s year.

Matthew 6 takes us to the middle of what we have come to call ‘The Sermon on the Mount’, a long section of teaching that Jesus addresses to those who have come to learn from him. Almsgiving (what we might call ‘charity’), prayer and fasting would have been familiar and important aspects of Jewish piety in the first century and Jesus’ comments have a lot in common with those of contemporary rabbinic teachers. Piety should never be an exercise in impressing our peers – the kind of attitude we sometimes call ‘holier than thou’ – but needs to be rooted in in our desire for God and for God’s kingdom. These same three acts of piety are at the heart of traditional Lenten observance. Jesus’ critique of hypocrisy is as relevant as ever.

Perhaps the most challenging part of the passage comes at the end. "Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth" (v. 19). John Wesley once preached a sermon on this text saying it was the most neglected command of God. Christians, he said, were less likely to obey it than those they call ‘heathens’. For him, the Methodist movement should encourage responsible and sparing use of the world’s goods.

To Ponder:

• How do you intend to mark the season of Lent?
• What does the challenge to store up treasure in heaven say to you about your property?